As the new 2013-2014 school year begins at Clear Fork Valley High School and Middle School, students prepare to settle into their new classrooms and routines. The teachers and staff also come prepared with a new sense of preparedness and confidence.
“We always had in mind to do this. We are always concerned with who is in the building,”said Clear Fork High School Principal Brian Brown. Brown stated the building already had magnetic locks but at the end of last year the security was upgraded.
The upgrades included installing a “buzz-in” system coupled with proximity cards linked to a code. Located at the front entrance of the high school building, the system is fitted with an automatic timing mechanism. The doors lock at precisely 8 a.m., leaving only one point of entry that is fitted with a security camera.
Brown added,”Because of incidents that have occurred across the nation, this got shoved to the top of the list.”
Eleven cameras in total have been added at various vantage points throughout the high school and middle school buildings including the gyms, cafeteria and main hallways. Every staff member has a key card and code. Anyone wishing to enter the building must approach the front entrance where they will be identified on camera and they must state the nature of their visit before being buzzed in.
Brown noted that the technology for security systems has become very advanced but also very affordable. “We are happy to have secured the money to do it,” said Brown. He added,”It was actually very affordable.”
Brown stated the upgrades were made possible by funding provided by the Permanent Improvement Fund and was approved by the school board.
Another added measure of security was the recent training program provided to the teaching and office staff. The ALICE-Response Options Critical Incident Training program took place at the high school August 19 and was a collaborated effort between the Richland County Sheriff Department and the Bellville and Butler Police Departments.
“It was the best training I’ve ever had, very beneficial,” said Cheryl Lantz, a member of the high school office staff.
The key elements of ALICE; A-Alert, L-Lockdown, I-Inform, C-Counter, E-Evacuate, is to provide teachers with the capability to react should a critical incident occur. The old standard of “freezing” is replaced with a flee or barricade response. The focus is on reacting in a more defensive and calculated manner without risk to staff or students.
A tactical mock exercise of a ‘school shooter’ on the premises was re-enacted by sheriff deputies complete with first responders.
Brown stated,”The training was pretty unique, it’s a form of damage control.”He added the training stressed a goal to,”Get the kids out.”
The goal of the heightened security measures stated Brown is to enhance the safety of the students and to empower the teachers to be able to react in a critical situation. Brown believes the steps they have taken will instill a peace of mind in both the staff and parents to know the safety of the students has been taken to the next level.
